The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[HairOfTheDog]

Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?

A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!

I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.

I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.

[HairOfTheDog]

Evening everyone! - Wanted to ping everybody because Becky is talkin' about looking at English saddles upthread today, and I wanted to make sure anyone who might have input saw that!

And to show off snapshots....

ecurbh cantered today for the first time! - First time was kindof an accident... I told him if he cued too hard he would get a canter, and he did!

I am pretty proud of my ecurbh, he's gonna be a good rider, and I am looking forward to getting him his own horse.

Tomorrow I wanna put my own saddle on, so I can reach the stirrups!

I took a series of funny pony pictures I'll post in a minute.

[HairOfTheDog]

This is my pony having a heck of a time getting at an itch... Hard to tell in stills, but she is actually rubbing her udder and bee-hind and almost "scooting" like a dog. She does the most oddball things I've never seen an adult horse do. ;~D

She did that for a good several minutes... I figured if she was that miserable I better check it out, and washed her bee-hind and udder real well. I think she is in heat too, which might be part of it.

[CindyDawg]

At least you got stirrups, Ecurbh:') When I was riding english, mine were taken away :') You look great. I'm not there yet.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hi there:), thanks for pinging everyone to my question.

Just clicked on, hoping some others will join us, not much on TV tonigt.

I think a friend of mine (the one that came Thurs.) is coming tomorrow to ride. Even if she doesn't if it doesn't rain I'm riding.

I didn't today. On Fri. I run my weekly errands and babysit my grandson so his momma can ride her horse:) He was here till 3:00. It was nice enough to ride then, but I went ahead and worked on the garden and got the yard mowed. I did worm everyone tho.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

She just working on that bowing stuff :')

[ecurbh]

Thanks. It startled me when he broke into the canter that first time, wasn't sure I was gonna stay on! Got a little easier the next time, as I started to get more of a feel for the motion.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Looks like your doing good e curb h:)

One thing about Arabs, they most generally have a very nice canter. If you switch to a QH type, you will probably notice a difference. Seems there is alot more rocking motion with an Arab.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

thanks for pinging everyone to my question.

Well, I am hoping eventually folk will just check in and join in... but for now I'll ping them to remind them to look here!

[HairOfTheDog]

He does have much nicer canter than his trot, to sit.

[CindyDawg]

Can you tell before he moves? With Okie, it is so cool. I feel a change in his muscles on his left side right before he starts to trot. Only have a few seconds but I know.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

When Rocky takes off, he accelerates so hard with his back end that you swear he is bucking. It takes a while to get use to him. If you can keep from pulling him up after a stride or two he smooths out some. But the inital take off is rough. I don't know if that's him, or because he is a barrel horse.

BEcky

[ecurbh]

I think so, but I don't really remember. I was busy thinking, "OK, let's trot... wait, this isn't a trot! eeek!" and shifting my balance so I could stay on. But I'll try to notice that next time.

[HairOfTheDog]

Interesting! - Have to see him do it! Might depend on whether he is starting off in the front or in the back.

[CindyDawg]

I'm still working on the trotting part but it kind of starled me at first too. He usually does a "do I have too?" to clucks and pressure and then an "oh all right". I can feel a change in his shoulder to back muscles. Lot's of power. Mostly just the left side though. Don't know if it' him or me keeping more leg pressure since I'm left handed.
The other day when he jumped at the birds though he wasn't warming up. We scooted before I knew what happened :')

[AnAmericanMother]

All right! Go ecurbh!

(Don't forget to tell him, "You don't have to LOOK like Mike Plumb in order to RIDE like Mike Plumb.")

Plumb - who has been on more Olympic teams than any other U.S. athlete in ANY sport and has won medals galore - is notorious for his slump-shouldered riding. My instructor yells the above at me periodically, because I ride slump-shouldered (however I do not ride anywhere near as well as Plumb. Not even within galloping distance.)

[CindyDawg]

Does he make it? :') I've never been to a horse show. Awesome.

[AnAmericanMother]

Start him on a 10 meter circle left and circle right to see if there's any difference. Lift him into the canter from a collected and a medium trot to see if that makes any difference.

Being a barrel horse probably has a lot to do with it. In which case starting from a trot is probably going to help.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, even if he didn't have an awkward riding style, that is an awkward point in the jump there!

[HairOfTheDog]

Mostly just the left side though. Don't know if it' him or me keeping more leg pressure since I'm left handed.

He probably habitually starts out on the same foot, like we do when we start to run, though we don't realize it.

[CindyDawg]

I'll have to get someone to watch. Don't think it would be a good idea for me right now :')